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preproduction in the Sokol's barn in Sisters, Oregon
recorded at Blue Rock in Wimberley, Texas.
Engineer: Keith Gary
Mixed at John Keane Studios in Athens Georgia by John Keane
Mastered by Brent Lambert at Kitchen Mastering in Carrboro, North Carolina
photography by Rodney Bursiel

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Jonathan ByrdChapel Hill, North Carolina

“One of the top 50 songwriters of the last 50 years. ” — Chicago Tribune“...a folk singer
with the heart of a rock 'n' roll band.” — K. Oliver, Free Times. Preacher's kid, Gulf war Navy veteran, seventh-generation North Carolinian, guitar flatpicker, award-winning iconoclastic and spiritual songwriter. An American treasure....more

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you look at me; I look at you
we used to be birds
navigating the night together
You come to me; I come to you
we used to be birds
calling out in the sky for each other

Now here we are and no one knows we used to be birds
It's all there in the hinge of your hand, in the way we turn
did you ever wonder why you looked to the sky to find me
I looked for you, too, then one day I knew we used to be birds

you dance with me; I dance with you
we used to be birds
here's a sweet little song to remind us
you say my name; I say your name
we used to be birds
on a branch in the night for the lovers to find us

Now here we are and no one knows we used to be birds
It's all there in the hinge of my hand, in the way we turn
did you ever wonder why you looked to the sky to pray for me
I prayed for you, too, then one day I knew we used to be birds

Track Name: Hazel Eyes

Hazel eyes turn the night into a tourmaline
open wide the iris night around you

Hazel eyes, earth and vine, the made and maker
take your time, tell me why I found you

Rolling stone, how do I know you mean what you say?
Bolder now, holding out your august hand, your august hand

Hazel eyes, paper lights, myth and cymbal
the story's ours, tell me now how it goes

Track Name: One Night At A Time

One night at a time, babe, is how most men work.
You go lovin on the wrong one and you're bound to get hurt.
I'm a one woman man, babe. I'll treat you right
if you've had enough makin love one night at a time.

You're a real sweet talker, but talk is cheap.
Don't make no promises that you can't keep.
If you wanna love me, I don't mind.
But if you want my heart, you've got to start one night at a time.

One night at a time- hey, how 'bout tonight?
We can have one dance and a little romance, if the feelin's right.
And in the mornin, we just might find
we're ready for a little bit more, one night at a time.

I'm a long haul man, not a one-night stand.
Hey cowboy, we ain't even danced.
I'll walk the talk, babe. I'll toe the line.
Walk before you run. Let's have some fun one night at a time.

One night at a time- hey, how 'bout tonight?
We can have one dance and a little romance, if the feelin's right.
And in the mornin, we just might find
we're ready for a little bit more, one night at a time.
We can work our way to a wedding day, one night at a time.
Don't make no plans, you can be my man, one night at a time.

Track Name: In The Light Of Day

Love me in the light of day
Don’t try to hide your heart away
We both know you don’t have to go
Won’t you stay and love me in the light of day

Love me, where we can see
Don’t try to hide your eyes from me
If what you feel is really real
Won’t you stay and love me in the light of day

Don’t leave it locked up like a secret
the way you keep it, even from me
Don’t be afraid of the love we’ve made
Won’t you stay and love me in the light of day

Don’t leave it locked up like a secret
the way you keep it, even from me
We both know you don’t have to go
Won’t you stay and love me in the light of day

Track Name: Paint The Town Blue

let's paint the town blue, now I'm losin you
I don't know why you couldn't be true
tomorrow I'll have to bid you adieu
oh darlin, tonight, let's paint the town blue

all of the things we used to do
we'd paint the town red, when our love was new
we were borrowin time, but we never knew
now payment is due, Iet's paint the town blue

just one more time, let's see the night through
if we can't make love, we'll have to make do
let's put on the dog, like we used to do
oh darlin, tonight, let's paint the town blue

let's paint the town blue, now I'm losin you
I don't know why you couldn't be true
tomorrow I'll have to bid you adieu
but darlin tonight, let's paint the town blue

Track Name: Maureen

Maureen, the sky's full of stars, like holes in a screen.
I know you're in there, Maureen. Come to me.

Maureen, jasmine and pine, like perfume on the breeze.
I know you're in there, Maureen. Come to me.

Now I'm burning, out on the dry ponderosa in flames,
and you're raining, only one lonesome valley away.
Don't leave me this way.

Maureen, my heart beats so hard, like it's trying to get free.
I know you're in there, Maureen. Come to me.

Track Name: Close Enough To Touch

Do you ever wanna stone me?
Do you ever think you're all grown up?
If you ever get lonely, I'm
close enough to touch,
close enough to touch.

Deep cover on a dark night
can't take away all my love.
Behind the clouds, I'm a satellite,
close enough to touch,
close enough to touch.

Can you hear me?
Can you feel me lovin you, lovin' you?

Can I turn it off?
Can I ever stop lovin you, lovin' you?

There's a ghost on the telephone.
Will it ever be good enough?
There's a voice on the radio,
close enough to touch,
close enough to touch.

I got my heart tied up with twine,
a bandana with all my stuff,
a red hawk in the western sky
close enough to touch,
close enough to touch.

Track Name: Desert Rose

Our love is a desert rose.
Sometimes it hides. Sometimes it shows.
But it's always there and it always grows.
Our love is a desert rose.

Some people only see the desert
as rocks and thorns and tumbleweeds,
but underneath is life so tender
just waiting there patiently.

Our love is a desert rose.
Sometimes it hides. Sometimes it shows.
But it's always there and it always grows.
Our love is a desert rose.

Some people see us out together.
They think our time has come and gone.
We know our love's alive as ever.
Deep underground, the roots are strong.

Our love is a desert rose.
Sometimes it hides. Sometimes it shows.
But it's always there and it always grows.
Our love is a desert rose.

Track Name: It's Too Late To Call It A Night

It's too late to call it a night.
All this time, I've been lost in your eyes.
Why don't you stay? We can finish the wine.
It's too late to call it a night.

Is it just you and me?
When did everyone leave?
Look at us, like we knew
how good this could be.

My, oh my, would you look at the time?
Honey, its too late to call it a night.

Is that light in the sky
the sun coming up?
Could it be? Do you believe
that we're falling in love?

My, oh my, would you look at the time?
Honey, its too late to call it a night.

Track Name: Sundays Loving You

It's eight o'clock and the neighbors are knockin'
to give us a ride to church.
If we lay quiet, maybe they'll buy it.
I think this plan could work.
I hear 'em leavin, get under the sheets and
celebrate good news!
The best way to spend Sunday's loving you.

Baking the biscuits and making the fixin's
in your birthday suit.
Frying up bacon you might wear an apron.
It's the safest thing to do.
If you want coffee, get your hands off me.
Honey, one lump or two?
The best way to spend Sunday's loving you.

Hear the church bells ringing.
The sun shines down from up above.
I hear the choir singing,
"Hallelujah, God is love."

It's five to eleven, and I'm in heaven
with you at home alone.
Let's get to the neighbor's and pick some tomatoes
before they get back home.
We'll make it out of town with a blanket on the ground
by the time the preachin's through.
The best way to spend Sunday's loving you.

Track Name: Lay Your Hands On The Highway

Hey baby, I've got a question.
I'm looking at the moon.
If it's the same there as it is here,
does she look lonely to you?

The closest thing I've got to love
is under these turning wheels,
this one warm line, a night-blooming vine,
a thing we both can feel.

Lay your hands on the highway.
Look up at the moon.
I'm sending all my love babe,
rolling on to you.

There's nothing above the speed of love,
so put that pedal down.
Sometime tonight, when you get tired,
stop and touch the ground.

Don't go so fast in the Yellowhead pass.
Send your love to Decarie.
My hands are bare. I'm kneeling there
for the love you send to me.

Lay your hands on the highway.
Look up at the moon.
I'm sending all my love babe,
rolling on to you.